[hider=Soraya, the Archon of Change][center][h2]Soraya[/h2]
[h3]Archon of Change, Our Lady of Change, The Kitsune of a Thousand Forms[/h3]

[h3]Type[/h3]
Archon

[h3]Relations[/h3]
[b]Iao:[/b] Very friendly, hence why she's always pranking him. She views him as a friend.
[b]Kabius:[/b] She respects him and his amiable towards him, but that's about it.
[b]Kuth:[/b] He amuses her, since he's like the only one that talks to her the way he does, but she's also somewhat wary of him and some of his ambitions. The short version is she's happy to let him do as he pleases and not interfere with what goes on in his country if he returns the favor.

[h3]Appearance[/h3]
Soraya has no set appearance, not truly. It's not uncommon for her to drastically change her appearance on a day to day basis. No one alive knows what her original appearance is; even she herself has forgotten it over the centuries she’s been alive. Despite constantly changing how she looks, Soraya does seem to have three looks that are currently her favorite.
[hider=Her Favorite Looks][img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/004/016/010/large/team-couscous-3-2.jpg?1479475954[/img]
Her go to look, this is the appearance most people consider to be her ‘true form’, even if it is simply a fabrication of her mind.

[img]http://orig11.deviantart.net/dbed/f/2016/315/6/a/mobius_final_fantasy_tamamo_no_mae_yuchenghong_by_yuchenghong-dao3tes.jpg[/img]
The appearance she adopts when feeling especially playful, it is not clear whether she started using it before or after people called her the Kitsune of a Thousand Forms. Either way it has caused many to wonder if she is not a human at all, but a shapeshifting fox. It doesn’t help that at times she seemingly shifts into this form, or parts of this form, without even realizing it.

[img]https://pp.vk.me/c425925/v425925431/5096/iSJ2EnbipIw.jpg[/img]
At times she takes the form of a male and when she does this is her go to look. While far rarer than her other looks, those around her have seen this one enough to recognize it with a simple glance.[/hider]

[h3]Personality and Drive[/h3]
Soraya’s main drive is to stave off the boredom that comes after living for as long as she has. This has caused many to see her as a capricious entity, although in reality she’s rather benevolent. She has a strong sense of curiosity that can be a great source of motivation and means of influencing her actions. She has a love of playing pranks on others, especially powerful entities such as exarchs and other archons.

[h3]History[/h3]
Soraya’s earliest memory is when her father gave her a coin and told her to buy something from the village merchant. The five year old had never liked the appearance of gold, thus she wished that the coin she had been given was silver instead. When she handed the coin to the merchant he made an odd face and said “Sorry lass, looks like this coin is mostly silver”. Those words convinced the five year old that she had somehow changed the coin. This conviction only grew in time and with it a power was born.

She used this fledgling power to help those in her village. She repaired tools and strengthened them with her mind. Seeing these feats convinced the villagers that she could do even more, thus enabling her to do so. 

As she grew into a teenager a thought occurred to her: if she could change objects around her how much easier would it be to change herself? At first she tried minor things, such as shrinking her nose that she had always felt was too large or changing her hair color. Eventually she found that she could change her appearance even more, doing so to meet her own standards of beauty. As she grew older she found that she could revert her body to its previous youth with ease.

By the time she had seen a hundred summers she had become known near and far as quite the eccentric being. Simply living life had long ago lost its novelty, thus she had turned to experimenting with and expanding her powers. She learned how to change the forms of living beings and even how to heal wounds, for a time roaming from village to village to heal wounds and remove scars. When that grew dull she turned her attention to changing animals into entirely different things.

For fifty years she struggled with her new goal, rarely making any real progress. It was then that Izalith whispered into Soraya’s ear, promising her more knowledge and entertainment if she bent the knee. It took Soraya but a moment to make her decision. One hundred and fifty more summers passed and with them Soraya created the kelpies and selkies, thus bringing that chapter of her life to a close.

[h3]Armaments[/h3] 

Soraya’s Shroud: Originally a simple and mundane silver ring, this relic has been altered by Soraya on such a level that it no longer has a true form. Instead it will automatically change into whatever type of clothing its wearer desires. It is said that, due to being in her presence for centuries, Soraya’s Shroud has gained some of her power and would allow wearers to shapeshift into other humans, even if they possess no magical abilities.

The Obsidian Dagger: Said to have been given to Soraya as a gift from the night mother, the Obsidian Dagger does not cause injuries. Instead, when someone is stabbed by the Obsidian Dagger, they are turned into stone. Only those of incredible will or magical prowess are able to revert back into flesh and only after some time has passed.

[h3]Mount[/h3]
Soraya doesn’t truly have a dedicated mount, finding one to be redundant given that she can simply shapeshift into an eagle, horse, or any other creature. She is known, however, to shapeshift her servants into giant eagles or unicorns from time to time when she feels like actually riding something. She is also known to ride normal horses or use transmutation to modify other existing animals and use them as mounts.

[h3]Discipline[/h3]
[i]The Art of Transmutation[/i]

Transmutation is the art of changing oneself and one’s environment to fit one’s desire. It is divided into three separate schools: shapeshifting, environmental transmutation, and creature transmutation.

The school of shapeshifting is as it sounds. It involves using magic to change one’s own shape. In its simplest form it allows an individual to change from one species to another. More adept practitioners can use it to change single features of themselves, such as their facial features, giving themselves features they didn’t have such as wings, or healing wounds they have.

Environmental transmutation is the school that revolves around changing inanimate objects in one’s vacinity. A practitioner of this school can change iron into steel, or even gold if they are skilled enough. Commonly they are asked to enhance the properties of armor and weapons, but truly skilled practitioners can create a fortress from a mountain.

Creature transmutation is the school of bending other animals to meet one’s desire. This is by far the hardest, yet most rewarding, school. The most common example of this school is healing other creatures, but truly skilled practitioners can turn humans into sheep.

[h3]Abilities[/h3]
Given that she created a completely new form of magic, it goes without saying that Soraya is an incredibly skilled magician. She can shapeshift herself with a mere thought and changing objects and animals in her vicinity comes with ease as well. While not nearly as skilled in other schools of magic, she has dabbled in them, giving her a very large magical repertoire.

Soraya is quite skilled in unarmed combat and fighting in a variety of animal forms. Having said that she is lackluster at best when using a weapon and is far more dangerous unarmed.

Over many years she has become an incredibly skilled actress, able to mimic others with ease. Coupled with her shapeshifting abilities her acting skills allow her to fool even the most observant of individuals. All the better for pranking them…[/center][/hider][hider=Discipline Sample Spells]Components: Fur or feathers of an animal
Casting Time: One minute to instantaneously depending on caster skill
Range: Self
Duration: Depends on caster skill but can range from ten minutes to infinite (most users top out at an hour)
Effect: Shapeshift into an animal

Components: A drawn magic circle
Casting Time: About ten seconds to a minute to draw the circle, then ten seconds for the spell to activate
Range: A few feet.
Duration: Permanent
Effect: Creates a ten foot tall wall with a length of ten feet out of materials in the ground. Additional magic circles can be used to increase the wall’s length.

Components: A drawn magic circle and additional materials
Casting Time: Ten seconds excluding the drawing of the circle
Range: Touch required
Duration: Permanent
Effect: Repair tool, weapon, or armor. If additional materials are not available they will be taken from elsewhere on the item being repaired, weakening it elsewhere.[/hider][hider=Holdings][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/Darkspleen/Map%20stuff.jpg[/img]

[b]Name:[/b] Lonassa
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/0e/3e/e1/0e3ee1ffc12c421daaae970c1c2d13f8.jpg[/img]
[center][i]Behold the city of our fair lady, the city of statues. Travel the world thrice over and you will be hard pressed to find a city that matches the beauty of ours.[/i][/center]
[b]Type:[/b] Royal capital. The heart of Soraya’s administration, such as it is, it is a metropolis that, while certainly not a fortress-city, is still surprisingly defensible.
[b]Culture:[/b] It would not be an exaggeration to call Lonassa a major center of art. Its people are well known for being exceptional sculptors, painters, musicians, tailors, philosophers, and builders. Lonassans are well known for their almost fanatical worship of the Mother of Night; some of the largest buildings in Lonassa are great cathedrals built in her honor. Plays, performed on both the street and in theaters, are daily occurrences and a form of entertainment for poor and rich alike.

Lonassan outfits are made up primarily of two pieces: a chiton and a himation. The chiton is a simple tunic garment that usually falls to the ankles of the wearer, although shorter chitons are worn during vigorous activities. A himation is a basic outer garment worn over the chiton; it is made of a heavy rectangular material that went under the left arm and secured on the right shoulder. A garment called a peplos is sometimes worn over the chiton and under, or in place of, a himation. A peplos is a square piece of cloth with the top third folded over and pinned at both shoulders, leaving the cloth open down one side. Sometimes the peplos is worn alone, in place of the chiton. During colder seasons it's not uncommon for Lonassans to wear a heavy cloak. Sandals are the most common form of footwear, but soft shoes and boots are not uncommon, especially when not in an urban setting. Traditionally silk, linen, and wool are used to make clothing. Dyes are used to make Lonassan clothing vibrant and colorful. Women commonly wear jewelry, both as rings and necklaces, as well as small ornaments that are sewn into their clothing. They also usually have elaborate hairstyles and makeup, both of which, in conjunction with jewelry, are used as a status symbol.
[b]Description:[/b] Built in the lake itself, Lonassa is only accessible by its sole bridge and by boat. The city itself houses some hundred thousand people with another hundred thousand living in nearby settles that also contributes to its economy. The massive amounts of statues found throughout the city has resulted in it being called the [i]City of Statues[/i]; the two massive states found on either side of its entrance were created by Soraya herself when she founded it over a hundred years ago. By far the most impressive structure in Lonassa is the Pantheon, a massive cathedral dedicated to Mother Night and her archons. The cathedral is adorned by massive statues of Mother Night and each of her archons and commonly serves as a place of worship for the people of Lonassa.
[b]Laws:[/b] The laws of Lonassa are much what one would expect to see everywhere else in the empire. What makes Lonassa stand out is how strict it is in its ban of using magic to create precious metals and the fact that the punishment for nonviolent crimes is mandatory civil or military service.
[b]Military:[/b] (What kind of system does your hold use to raise troops? What about their training? What kind of units could you call on? Remember this is grimdark high fantasy, So if you want pegasus knights or wyvern riders go for it.)

[b]Name:[/b] Shrine of Eternity
[img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/560/076/large/db-kim-l-8.jpg?1471842630[/img]
[b]Type:[/b] Religious site and school of magic 
[b]Description:[/b] A massive shrine or monument built over the religious site of a civilization now long dead, the Shrine of Eternity was created by Soraya some two hundred years ago. No one is quite sure why Soraya built the shrine or who the massive statue is portraying. Most people believe it is a shrine to Mother Night, but many others believes its a monument to Soraya's mother or a dear friend. Regardless the Shrine of Eternity has become an important religious site in the empire and draws visitors and pilgrims from all over. It also serves as the home for the Acolytes of Change as well as an important school of magic in the region.

[b]Name:[/b] Fortress of Hellara
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f1/51/9a/f1519a09b9f03af8be787057907edfc6.jpg[/img]
[b]Type:[/b] Major castle fortification
[b]Description:[/b] An ancient fortress built hundreds of years before modern Lonassa, Hellara serves as an important defensive fortification in the region as it overlooks one of the main routes to the Hollow Moors. While the fortress predates Soraya, she created the massive statues it is now known for.

[b]Name:[/b] Siteia
[img]http://www.paolopuggioni.com/admin/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ashdale-Mood1.jpg[/img]
[b]Type:[/b] Trading port
[b]Description:[/b] At one point the largest settlement in the region, Siteia has decline in importance ever since the creation of modern day Lonassa. Even so it remains an important city in the region. Its location helps the Empire maintain control over the eastern portions of the lake, while also acting as an important trading port. While it does not possess the greatest fortifications, what it does have is enough to slow down invaders. It also controls the river route to Lonassa through the presence of massive chains that can be held across the river, effectively halting shipping.[/hider][hider=Military]The army of Lonassa, as a whole, has specialized in the support of other armies. This includes increasing the mobility of friendly troops while attempting to harm the mobility of hostile forces, the construction of fortifications and siege weaponry, skirmishing and screening for friendly troops, protecting important locations, and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure during peacetime.
 
Lonassan troops are very well equipped and organized, but tend to suffer from inferior combat training and lower morale. This has resulted in an overreliance in the use of phalanx formations and defensive strategies in an attempt to make up for this. Most Lonassan foot soldiers carry javelins into battle and the use of magically enhanced and controlled animals is common in battle.
 
[hider=Organization][b]Decad:[/b] A unit of ten soldiers made up of a vanguard of five soldiers, a rearguard of four soldiers, and commanded by a Decarch. Commonly the rearguard carries extra javelins and supplies for the vanguard soldiers and step in to fill the front line when a vanguard soldier falls.
 
[b]Allaghia:[/b] A formation of fifty soldiers made up of five decads and commanded by a Pentecontarch, an allaghia is the smallest formation that will ever act independently. In most cases they are expected to be supported by other allaghias.
 
[b]Kentarchia:[/b] A formation of one hundred soldiers formed by two allaghias and led by a Kentarch, the Kentarchias is largely considered as the ‘base’ formation in the Lonassan army. The have the size required to be effective on the battlefield while still being small enough to be strategically mobile. A Kentarchia is also the smallest formation that can be made up of cavalry.
 
[b]Banda:[/b] A cavalry exclusive force composed of 200 to 400 soldiers, and formed by two to four Kentarchias, bandas are led by a Komes. Very rarely will these formations be acting independently.
 
[b]Numeri:[/b] An infantry-only force composed of 300 to 400 soldiers, formed by three to four Kentarchias and led by a Topoteretes. Numeri are the most common formation for acting independent due to their size and versatility.
 
[b]Tagma:[/b] A formation made up of roughly 1,000 men and comprised of several numeri and banda, Tagmas are led by a Domestikos. These are the smallest formations that consist of both foot soldiers and cavalry and are largely considered to be the backbone of the Lonassan army.
 
[b]Morai:[/b] Led by a Moirarch, this is a unit of 2,000 to 4,000 men comprised of two to four tagmas. These formations a used only for large scale offensives or to garrison the defenses of a city or fortress.
 
[b]Themata:[/b] Led by a Strategos, the Themata represents the entirety of Lonassa’s army. Made of uf several Morai, the Themata’s size is liable to change depending on whether the Empire is at war or not.[/hider][/hider]